Setting the Stage for US Wars in Iraq & Afghanistan

Background Created at the end of WWI Treaty of Versailles Combined 3 ethic groups Kurds (North) Sunni’s (Central) Shia (South)

Government British established a Monarchy 1958: The Kings assassination brings a military dictatorship 1968: Ba’ath Party takes control by assassination Secularism Pan-Arabism Socialism

Saddam Hussein Gained power in Ba’ath Party as an assassin 2nd in command when Ba’ath Party took control Became Dictator in 1979 Authoritarian control: Define:

Iran- Iraq War 1980-1988 Saddam uses Chemical weapons Even against the Kurds in his own nation 1 million people die Saddam has 4th largest Army in the world Low on money from war

Aug. 1990: Iraq invades Kuwait Invades Kuwait/ places troops on Said Arabian border Saudi Arabia asks U.N. for protection U.N. –led by U.S.- sent troops to Saudi Arabia President Bush sets Jan. 15 1991 as deadline for Iraq to leave Kuwait Iraq ignores the date

Persian Gulf War Jan. 16th 1991: U.S. begins bombing forces in Kuwait and in Iraq Feb. 23- U.N. forces invade Kuwait March 3 Iraq signs cease fire Iraq agrees to: No biological/ chemical/ nuclear weapons Open to U.N. weapons inspections No fly zones (to protect Kurdish, Shia Iraqi’s)

Persian Gulf War Results 22,000 Iraqi Dead 148 U.S. Dead In return for the United Nations stopping its attack, Saddam agreed to the following: Chemical / Biological Inspections No-Fly Zones

Osama Bin Laden Son of a wealthy Saudi Arabian Construction family (Billions) Outraged over US presence on “Holy Soil” (Saudi Arabia). Protested against the government. Also points to US support of Israel Banished from Saudi Arabia Moves to Sudan, then Afghanistan

Background 1992: Osama Bin Laden is banned from Saudi Arabia Criticizes government for allowing U.S. forces onto Muslim soil Goes to Sudan 1996: The Taliban takes over Afghanistan 1996: Under pressure from the US, Bin Laden is kicked out of Sudan Welcomed by the Taliban Operates Terrorists training centers for Al-Qaeda

Bin Laden in Afghanistan 1980’s: Fights to kick Russia out of Afghanistan US helps with money and weapons then leaves Forms Al-Queda to fight against “evil” and spread fundamentalist Islam

Bin Laden Attacks America Somalia - 1993 18 Killed

World Trade Center Bombing 1993 6 Killed

Bombing of U.S. Embassies in Tanzania & Kenya -1998 Over 200 Killed

Bombing of the USS Cole - 2000 17 Killed

September 11, 2001 3,057 Americans killed Largest attack on American soil in almost 200 years President Bush vows that the attackers will pay Suspicion goes to Al-Qaeda They soon take credit for the attack

September 11th 2001 3057 Killed

19 Hijackers 15 from Saudi Arabia 2 from Egypt 1 each from United Arab Emirates and Lebanon

Afghanistan A Brief History

History Has been invaded many times: Persians from (modern day) Iran 327 BC 150BC: Alexander the Great Kushans 0 AD  700 AD ~ 700 AD: Muslims (Sunni) take over 1220: Genghis Khan 1505: Mogul Dynasty 1738: Persians 1838-1842: The British try to take over 1878-1880: They try again 1979 - 1989: Russia invades History

Effect of Invasions Diverse population of 29 million people Dozens of ethnic groups Hundreds of tribes Many Afghans identify with their tribe first Then their ethnic group Few major cities Most scattered though out small villages/ hamlets Very difficult to bring together under one government Effect of Invasions

Recent History of Fundamentalist Islam in Afghanistan 1979 The Soviet Union Invades 10 years of fighting A worldwide call goes out to declare Jihad (struggle) Muslims across the world rush to remove the invaders of a Muslim nation They form the Mujahideen

Mujahideen An army of Muslim fighters of Jihad defending Islam Made up of Muslims from around the world (including Osama Bin Laden) Assisted by the United State’s CIA to remove the Soviet Union ($, weapons, training)

1989: The Soviets Retreat The United States then removes aid Leaves a gap for who is going to run the country The Mujahideen break up into groups fighting for control The Civil War rips apart the country even more than the Soviet Invasion 1996: The Taliban take control of Afghanistan

Fundamentalist Islamic group who believes that the religion of Islam should be the government Began during the Civil War as a group to fight road thieves. Brutal fighters They bring order to Afghanistan through strict religious rules Most Afghans welcome the end of the wars at first. The Taliban

Taliban Law Sharia (Islamic) Laws…No: Education or sports for women TV Movies Videos Music Dancing Clapping during sports events Kite flying Beard trimming

Bush Doctrine Bush Doctrine: The United States will attack first against any nation that poses a threat to the security of the United States or its allies

The Ultimatum President Bush informed the Taliban that they must turn over Bin Laden to the US or they will face the consequences. The United States will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbor them,“ The Taliban offers to try Bin Laden in their court according to Shiria Law – refused Taliban offered to hand Bin Laden to a third country for trial under Shiria Law - Refused

October 2001: America attacks Operation Enduring Freedom Massive air bombings January 2002: Ground troops are sent into Afghanistan. Britain joins with the US North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) follows: Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Poland, Australia, Spain, Netherlands, Denmark and 34 other nations.

Goals Capture Osama Bin Laden Remove Taliban from power Disband Al-Qaeda / prevent their operation in Afghanistan

Initial Results US forces overwhelm the Taliban Taliban is removed from power Al-Qaeda camps destroyed Osama Bin Laden on the run Life changes for those in US controlled areas

The Hunt for Bin Laden Osama Bin Laden runs to the mountain region called Tora Bora Cave Complex Area is bombed Special Forces sent to area with Afghan guides More troops requested- refused US policy focused on major cities Afghan guides turn on US troops Bin Laden escapes to Pakistan

Pakistan Government is allied with US Population is divided Some areas support anti-US movements The border areas are now controlled by Taliban/ Al-Qaeda Most attacks against US troops staged out of Pakistan Government refuses to allow US troops to enter Pakistan

2003: US Goes to War in Iraq Resources dedicated to Iraq End of 2003: 13,900 troops in Afghanistan 140,000 troops in Iraq Taliban begins to re-conquer areas they lost

Strategy Small outposts spread throughout Afghanistan Designed to: Prevent return of Al-Qaeda Remove Taliban influence in area Patrol area towns Fight the Taliban Provide services to the people

Guerilla Warfare No uniformed combatants Hit and run tactics Effect: Improvised Explosive Device (IEDS) Ambush Then mix with population Effect: Frustration Who’s the enemy? Increased civilians killed (collateral damage)

Afghanistan Government President Karzai elected 2004 Corrupt government Turns many toward Taliban for stability 2009 election Abdullah Abdullah challenges the President Nov. 2009 President Karzai wins Corrupt election Anger increases

After 8 Years of War Troops in Iraq have been reduced (staying out of major cities) 100,000 troops in Afghanistan Increased violence Taliban gaining power in areas US casualties growing 1455 Dead 9256 Wounded

President Obama’s Decision Leave Afghanistan Keep the status as-is Increase troops (as requested) What would you do? Why? What would the consequences be?

Decision Send additional troops Conditions: Goals train an Afghan army and police force Afghan government to provide increased services Conditions: President Karzai must work to eliminate corruption 400,000 trained soldiers and police Timeline: Begin Removing troops July 2011

Challenges to President Obama’s Plan Corruption of President Karzai’s government Need to recruit and train 400,000 Afghan soldiers Corrupt Bringing the countryside within the government Pakistan